Sucker rod elevator



June 17, 1941.- J.' P. RATIGAN SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR 2 sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1936 INVENTOR.

ATTO R N EYS June 17? 194i- J. P. RATIGAN SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1936 INVENTOR- Patented June 175, 194i SUCKER ROD ELEVATOR James P. Ratigan, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November 20, 1936, Serial No. 111,876

6 Claims.

' My invention relates to elevators and has particular reference to sucker rod elevators for handling sucker rods for oil well pumps.

In the oil well industry, it is the common practice to employ pumps located in the lowermost portions of the well, the plungers of which pumps are connected by a string of sucker rods to the walking-beam or other apparatus at the top of the Well employed for imparting a reciprocating movement to the plunger. To facilitate the handling of the sucker rods as they are lowered intothe well, or withdrawn therefrom, the uppermost length of the sucker rod is gripped by a sucker rod elevator by which the string may 1be lifted or lowered. The sucker rods are usually, constructed of lengths of rod material each about 25 to 30 feet long and each having a pin on one end and a box on the other end constituting couplings whereby the sections of sucker rods may be coupled together to form a string. The portion of the sucker rod immediately below the pin or box is usually swedged out `to meet the enlargement of the sucker rod necessary to form the pin or box. In certain types of sucker rods the portion of the rod immediately below the pin or box is formed of square cross section, and immediately below it the rod tapers to its normal size and circular cross section, the taper varying With different sizes and makes of rods, rendering it difficult to construct a single rod elevator which will t the different tapers of the rods.

The types of rod elevators which are in common use usually include a body member having a bore or seat for receiving the rod. which communicates with an opening r slot leading to one side of the elevator through which the rod may enter or leave the bore or seat, and a latch or gate is usually provided to extend in some manner-across the slot to prevent the sucker rod from escaping from the bore of the elevator. However these gates are not designed to engage the rod while it is in the seat, but merely acts to prevent complete escape of the rod fro-m the elevator, the latches being normally disposed a considerable distance below the upper surface of the elevator so that when a great strain is placed upon the elevator, the tendency of the rod to slip therefrom causes the elevator to twist, which in turn tends to bend the sucker rods immediately below the coupling members thereof.

It-is an object of my invention to provide a sucker rod elevator which is simple in its construction, but which will provide gate mechanism readily manipulated to open position to allow the entry of sucker rods into the elevator but which, when closed, cannot be inadvertently opened, and in which any tendency of the sucker rods yto move out of their recess will tend to hold the gates against retractive or opening movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sucker rod elevator in which the latch or gate performs two functions, iirst that of forming a portion of the seat or bore for the opposite or tapered portion of the sucker rod and also acts as a safety latch which will hold the sucker rod snugly against the seat, preventing the tilting or bending of the elevator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sucker rod elevator having a seat formed in the main body of the elevator and in which the sucker rod is held` snuglyl against the seat by gates readily retractable by manual manipulation to release the rod.

Another object o-f the invention is to provide a sucker rod elevator of the character set forth in the preceding.` paragraph, wherein the gate members are adapted to adjust themselves to the taper of the sucker rod.

Another objectl of the invention is to provide a sucker rod elevator of the character set forth, wherein the latch members extend fully to the upper surface of the elevator body and support the sucker rod substantially throughout the entire depth of the bore or seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bail for an elevator having a plurality of small projections extending therefrom for assisting an operator to retain his hold upon the bail without slipping.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein y Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a sucker rod elevator constructed in accordance with my invention; i Y

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sucker rod elevator shown in Fig. 1, but viewed from the rear thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sucker rod elevator illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and partly in section, to illustrate the manner of mounting and operation of the gates;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective View of one of the gates and its operating levers; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of my sucker rod e-levator, illustrating the gates in their retracted or open position.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated my sucker rod elevator as comprising a body mem.. ber I preferably formed as a single piece of metal provided with a pair of trunnions or bosses 2 extending from diametrically opposite sides thereof to engage through eyes or loops 3 formed upon the lower ends of the legs of a U-shaped bail 4 by which the body I may be lifted and lowered.

The body I is provided with a recess 5 or bore extending vertically therethrough to constitute a seat into which a sucker rod may be received, the diameter of the recess or bore 5 being preferably slightly in excess of the diameter of the particular sucker rod to be manipulated thereby, but of a diameter less than the collars or coupling portions of the sucker rods containing the pins'or boxes by which the sucker rods are coupled together. In order to adapt the recess 5 for the reception of sucker rods of varying shapes and to prevent injury to the couplings or enlargements of the sucker rods, I prefer to bevel the upper edge of therecess 5 as indicated at 6.

The recessor'borecommunicates withzthe exterior of the body-member through aY slot 1'Which is preferably of such Width as to conform. substantially with the diameter of the bore or recess 5. That is, the slot 'I- should be sufficiently wide to permit the passagetherethrough of any sucker rod ofr a diameter which may bereceived within the` recess orf bore 5. The-size and shape-of this slot is particularly illustrated in Fig. 5. To hold the sucker rods within the recess or bore 5 against accidental displacement orr release therefrom, I provide a pair of gates Band 9.V Each of these gatescomprises an elongated rectangular block of metal, particularly illustrated in Fig. 4, the side Walls- I @fand- I I of'vvhich` are-parallel toV each other andthe lower wall I2. of which sisubstantially flat, While the upperwall isformed upon two levels I3 and I4 so that therearwardvporton of the blockA isof slightly lessiheight thanthe'front portion which asl will be hereinafter more fully described, constituted theactual rod-receiving portion-of the gate.

The gate blocks 8 and 9 aresadapted toreciprocate, respectively, inv apairofslideways` I 5 and I 5 formed in the body member substantially tangential with the circle described by the recessor bore 5. f As will be noted'particularly from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and3-,` the slideways I5 and I6 constitute pockets of substantially rectangular cross section extending at an acute angle to the plane of movementof a rodinto and out of the recess E'and in which pockets the blocks are received, the depth of such pockets being considerably in excess of the length of the gate members B and 9 sothat the gate members may be retracted into such pockets to align the outermost portion of the gates with the side Walls of thevslot 1 when it is desired to Aopen the slot for passing arod into or out of the bore5; It will also be` noted that the width of the gate members 8 and 9 inthe plane transverse to the movement of theV rod into andout of the recess is such that when the gate blocksare projected tojther forward positions, one corner of each of them extends approximately halfway4 across the slot 'I' but it Will also be noted that in this position the surface of the gate blocks opposite to their point of contact with a rod in the recess still lies within 4the slideways I5 and YII"so that any pressure exerted by a rod'in an ,attempt to move out of the recess willgbe transmitted directly to the outer wall of the slideways I5 and longitudinal movement of the gate members nor I6 and will noteffect any produce any bending or twisting stresses thereon. When the rod is in the recess a line from any point of contact of the rod with either of the gate members drawn perpendicularly across the gate member, will meet a point on the outer wall of the slideway. This is an important feature since all prior devices have depended upon the tensile strength and resistance to bending of the gates or gate members themselves, whereas, in my device, all ofthe forces are transmitted directly to the body ofthe elevator.

The gate members 8 and 9 are preferably normally urged outwardly of the pockets by means of compression spring I1, one end of which is received inV adepression or recess IB in the rear end ofV the gate member, while the opposite end bears upon the rear wall I9 of the slideway or pocket. The gate member 8 is adapted to be movedrearwardly by means of a bellcrank lever 20 which is pivoted intermediate its end upon a pivot pin` 2l. The bellcrank lever 20 extends into-and operates within a horizontally extending Arecess 22 formed within the body member IV between its upper and: lowerwalls sothat one-end. 23-of the lever 29* projects intothe= slideway I5 where it is received' ini ai laterally'.1 extending opening or bore.241in the gate member 8l Be referring. particularly. to Fig 2' itwill be observedthat the Aupper surface-ofthe bodyvmember I: extends rearwardly` thereof as a flange-25 while thebottcm wallof: the body member extends rearwardly to formA a lower flange 26.- between which anges is provided: a ngerspace 21: into which the. arm. 28 ofi the` bellcrankV 20L extends; Theouterend of' the.. arm. 2B ispreferably.en iargedas shownlin Fig. 2 to-form a ngerpiece by whichthe fingers ofi the| operator.s handlmay engage-andisw-ing.v the lever about its pivotLZzI'.

ItY Will therefore beobserved that by. grasping the. arm.28of. the lever 2Dzand moving` it toward the center ofthe body. member; thef bellcranlc lever. 20 willzslide the gatefmember` 8.rearwardly.` in its slidewayagainstxthe force-of the springtl I.'I-. whileamererelease of the` lever 20.will;allow the spring IFIltolreturn the gatemember 8;to tsjorfwardor gate-.closing positio asshowninFigs. 1,4 2 and 3.

It will'- also be observed from an inspection, of. Fig. 3 1 thatA when the gateV is iin itsy forwardiposi.- tion the lever Zilgabuts theV materiallof; the body. member I surrounding the; recess 22 and-consti?r tutes. a stop: or limit. for. the forward movement ofthe gate member, 8.

T he gate member, 9 ,is similarlymanipulated lby, a bellcrarix` lever 29I p ivoted upon. a; pin ,3,0; the; rearward armzlf of thelever 2,9. extending. also. into ,thenger-Space-l so'thatzan operator may; by engaging onefof .the levers .With-hisgthumb and: the other of the; levers with.. his., fingers, and. squeezing them; toward; each; Othen. Simultane-4 ously retractzbothof;th,e gates. land; ,While the. mere release Oizthelevers willallow the respec-l tive springs tomove the gates, 8,- andir` toward; their closed position,

By,referringpartieularly,to Figs. 1 and Z-itwlll, benotedthat theslideway I5. extends entirely; throughthe uppervsurfaee of the bodymember. I i throughout a yportion `of the d epthV of ,the slideway,A to provide a space in which the enlarged. forward portion of the gate membersfandmay-pass, as thegate merlibersr are retracted, while thermaterial of thefbodytmember on the-outerlsidefof; the slideways I5- and, IIi= constitutes a, slide abut: ment orl shoulder, (as indicated at 32fand 33) against which the gates 8,. and 9 bear ata-al1 times.

This slide Vshoulder or abutment prevents the twisting or bending of the gate members 8 and 9 outwardly, irrespective of the pressure exerted by the sucker rod. Thus when the gate members 8 and 9 are in their closed positions, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it is impossible for the gates to be opened by a sucker rod held within the bore or recess 5.

The slideways I5 and I S are preferably disposed at a considerable angle to each other so that the end surfaces 34 and 35 of the. gate membersV 8 and 9 form a considerable angle relative to each other, thus constituting a V-shape to engage a sucker rod as the elevator is swung toward the sucker rod to engage the saine. By reason of the angular disposition of these surfaces relative to each other, the elevator may be swung upon a sucker rod by simply swinging the elevator against the sucker rod, the engagement of the sucker rod with the outer surface of the gate members 8 and 9 causing these gate members to be retracted against the force of their springs and allowing the sucker rod to slip past them into the bore or recess 5. Instantly, however, the gate members 8 and 9 will spring back to their closed positions and securely hold the sucker rod in place within the recess 5.

A sucker rod elevator constructed in accordance with the foregoing description may be manufactured With extreme economy since the entire body member, with the bore 5, the recess l, slideways and pockets I5 and I6 and finger-space 2'! and trunnions 2 may be cast in a single operation, while the gate members 8 and 9 may be cast with their recesses 24 and I8 formed therein, requiring no machining of the parts prior to their assembly. Also the levers and 29 may be cast, the only machining operation required being that of boring the necessary opening to receive the pivot pins 2| and 36 for the levers 28 and 29.

In view of the fact that certain types of sucker rods employed are formed with tapered sections below the couplings, the slideways I5 and I6 should be formed of slightly greater width than the width of the gate members 8 and 9 to allow these members considerable latitude of movement out of the truly vertical position to adapt them to accurately engage the particular taper of such tapered sucker rods.

It will also be noted that the bail 4, engaging with the trunnions 2, allows the bail 4 to be folded down relative to the body member I so that the entire structure may lie flat on the derrick floor and out of the way of workmen when not in use. If desired, the eyes 3 of the bail 4I may be provided with laterally extending shoulders 36 and the front wall of the body member I may be extended, as indicated at 37 and 38, to form abutting shoulders against which the shoulders may bear when the bail is in an upright position relative to the body member. Thus while the bail may be folded down when the bail is not in use, the body member I may be swung to a horizontal position when the bails are suspended from the overhead structure of the derrick and will remain in this horizontal position during the time that the tool is in use.

While the bail 4 may be held upon the trunnions 2 by any suitable means, I prefer to form the trunnions 2 with laterally extending keys 39 formed integrally therewith, and to provide eyes 3 of the bail 4 with a keyway @Il through which the keys 39 may pass. The keys 39 are formed near the outer ends of the trunnions 2 and are relatively short so as to provide between them and the side of the bottom member I ample space for the reception of the eyes 3 of the bail. The bails are usually flared and may be manufac-v tured with the eyes separated a greater distance than the overall distance between the outer ends of the trunnions 2, and when it is desired to connect the bail 4 with the body member the keys and keyways are placed in alignment and then the legs of the U-shaped bail are squeezed together until the eyes of the bail are brought into Contact with the sides of the body I and thereafter the rigidity of the bail material will hold the bail securely in place upon the trunnions 2.

When the bail has been placed upon the body of the elevator, the keys will lie beyond the exterior of the eyes of the bail, and hence will prevent any spreading of the ends of the bail as the load is taken up by the bails.

Also, it will be noted that each of the arms of the bail may be provi-ded with a plurality'of outstanding warts or projections 4I formed thereon which will assist an operator in holding on to the bail, the projections offering gripping surfaces which will prevent slippage of the bail through the hands of the operator.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown herein, except as Idefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elevator of the character described, a body having a rod receiving slot and an upwardly facing rod seat at the end of the slot, a pair of latch members projecting into said slot and movable apart and laterally of the slot by engagement with a rod to pass the rod into said end of the slot when the elevator is in substantially its normal vertical axial position, and upwardly facing rod supporting seats on said latch members opposite said body seat.

2. In an elevator of the character described, a body having a rod receiving slot and an upwardly facing rod seat at the end of the slot, a self closing latch comprising a member projecting into said slot and having a portion movable outwardly with relation to the slot by engagement with a rod to pass the rod into said end of the slot when the elevator is in substantially its normal vertical axial position, and an upwardly facing rod supporting seat on said portion of the latch member and opposite said body seat.

3. In a sucker rod elevator, a body member, a. recess therein for receiving sucker rods, a slot between said recess and the exterior of said body member through which a sucker rod may pass laterally into said recess, and means for receiving a pair of gate members, one on each side of said slot, said gate members being movable apart and laterally of the slot by engagement with a rod to pass the rod into said recess when the elevator is in substantially its normal vertical axial position, and adapted to'bear a portion of the weight of said sucker rod.

4. In a sucker rod elevator, a body member, a recess therein for receiving a sucker rod, a slot extending between said recess and the exterior of said body member through which a sucker rod may pass laterally into said recess, a slideway formed in said body member and extending from said slot at an acute angle to the plane of movement of a rod into and out of said recess, and a gate member reciprocably mounted in said recess and movable laterally of the slot byf engagementlwith a rod to'pass the rod into said recess Vwhen the elevator isin substantially itsxnormal vertical axial positionand said gate member: having a width such` that whenitf projects into said slot substantially allpoints thereon opposite to points of Contact by said.rod lie within said slideway, said gate member being adapted to bear a portion of the weight of said sucker rod.

5. In a sucker rod elevator, a bodymember, al recess therein forming a seat to receive a sucker rod, a slotv extending between saidrecess to the exterior of said body member through which ai sucker rodmay passlaterally: into said recess, apair of: gate members, one on each side of said slot, means mounting said gate members for sliding movement toward and away from each other across said slot to close saidv slot against the passage of a rod out of said recess,

saidlgate members when in closedpositionlenM y gaging the sucker rodand forming a portion of the sucker rod seat ofthe elevator andsaid gate members being movable apart and laterally of the slot by engagement,r with a rod to pass the rod into4 saidzrecess'when the elevator is in substantially its normalvertical axial position.

6..In` a sucker rod elevator, a body member having an upper surface and a lower surface, a rod-receiving recess extending vertically through said body member and a slot formed in said body member through which a rod may pass into and out ofV saidzrecess, a pair of slideways formed in saidbody member, onelon each side of said slot and, communicating therewith adjacent said recessfa gateA member ineach ofsaid slideways extending to the upper surface of said body member.` to form a continuation of the walls of said recess.' and with said recess forming a rod-seat substantially surrounding a rod, said gate members being movable apart and laterally of the slot" by engagement with a rod to pass the rod into saidrecess when the elevator is in substantiallyits normalvertical axial position.

JAMES P. RATIGAN. 

